Patterns
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Patterns (Tul)
The ancient law in the Orient was similar to the law of Hamurabi, "an eye for an eye, a tooth for a tooth," and was rigorously enforced even if death was caused accidentally. In this type of enviroment, and since the present system of free sparring had not yet been developed, it was impossible for a student of the martial arts to practice or test his individual skill of attack and defence against actual moving opponents.
Individual advancement was certainly hindered until an imaginative practitioner created the first patterns. Patterns are various fundamental movements, most of which represent either attack or defence techniques, set to a fixed and logical sequence.
The student sysematically deals with several imaginary opponents under various assumptions, using every available attacking and blocking too from different directions. Thus pattern practice enables the student to go through many fundamental movements in series, to develop sparring techniques, improve flexibility of movements, master body shifting, build muscle and breath control, develop fluid and smooth motions, and gain rythmical movements.
It also enables the student to acquire certain special techniques which cannot be obtained from either fundamental exercise or sparring.
In short, a pattern can be compared wsith a unit tactic or a word, if fundamental movement is an individual soldiers training or alphabet.
Though sparring may merely indicate that an opponent is more or less advanced, patterns are a more critical barometer in evaluating an individuals technique.
The following points shouls be considered while performing patterns.
Pattern should begin and end at exactly the same spot. This will indicate the performer's accuracy.
Correct posture and facing must be maintained at all times.
Muscles of the body should be either tensed or relaxed at the proper critical moments in the exercise.
The exercise should be performed in a rythmical movement with an absence of stiffness.
Movement should be accelerated or decelerated according to the instructions of each pattern.
Each pattern should be perfected before moving onto the next.
Students should know the purpose of each movement.
Students should perform each movement with realism.
Attack and defence techniques should be equally distributed among right and left hands and feet.
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The Reason for 24 Patterns
The life of a human being, perhaps 100 years, can be considered as a day when compared with eternity. Therefore, we mortals are no more than simple travellers who pass by the eternal years of an aeon in a day. It is ev ident that no-one can live more than a limited amount of time. Nevertheless, most people foolishly enslave themselves to materialism as if they could live for thousands of years. Some people strive to bequeath a good spiritual legacy for coming generations, in this way, gaining immortality. Obviously, the spirit is perpetual while material is not. Therefore, what we can do to leave behind something for the welfare of mankind is, perhaps, the most important thing in our lives.
"Here i leave Tae Kwon-Do for mankind as a trace of man of the late 20th century". ."The 24 patterns represent 24 hours, one day, or all of my life". Grand Master Choi Hong Hi, 9th Degree Black belt.
Why do we perform Patterns?
We practise patterns to Improve our Tae Kwon-Do techniques, to develop sparring techniques, to improve flexibility of movement, master body-shifting, develop muscles, balance and breath control. They also enable us to acquire techniques which cannot be obtained from other forms of training.